Open Shelves in the Kitchen?

So I have been toying with the idea of removing some of my kitchen cabinets and replacing them with open shelving. I have two concepts I like, first is to remove the cabinet doors and paint the inside of the cabinets and the second is to put shelves with brackets up. I also like the idea of doing a combination of the two. So I would love your feedback. Here are a few pictures I like. I like this idea because it opens the room up and eliminates the desire to hide clutter in the cabinets. You only have what you need, nice and simple. Let me know what you like and why! Thanks! (Oh, and a great place to donate those extra cabinets is Habitat for Humanity)

Method Does It Again!

I love natural cleaners and make a point to try them all so I can recommend the best to my clients. When you are using natural cleaners a good old fashion scrub can be hard to find until now. Method has just introduced a kitchen and bath scrub called, Le Scrub, it smells like mint and eucalyptus and works like Comet. The line also includes a toilet bowl scrub I will try soon as well. Another great part of this product is the design of the bottle. A cut little sponge/scrubber has a spot to rest and dry right on top. Stop by your local Target and pick some up, or check it out online at the Method website. 

Save Water & Cash on your Bill

It is a known fact that 20-35 % of toilets leak about a gallon per hour. How do you determine if yours is one? Here are a few tips to checking for toilet leaks. Find you water meter and write down the reading, then turn off all water fixtures in your home, don't use any water for one hour, then recheck your meter. If the meter reading has changed you may have a leak. Another way is to drop food coloring into the tank of the toilet. If the colored water makes its way to your toilet bowl after a few minutes then you have a lose flapper. This alone can add thousands of gallons of water to your usage each billing cycle. Save water and $ and make sure you are leak free!

Community Composting at Hampton Park

Are you interested in composting but do not have the space or funds for a composter? Recently I found out that the Hampton Park Horticulture Center has community compost bins. You can save up your food scraps in a nice compostable bag and then drop them off at the bins. A few months later they will give you some "black gold" for your contribution. You can use this nutritious soil in your garden and plants at home. I have been researching composters because the one I had fell apart, so off the the recycling center it went. Luckily I was able to retrieve the "black gold" first. So until I find a new composter that will last forever and it easy to use I will bring my food waste to the community composter & wait for it to turn to "gold".

Cookware Beware!

Here is the basic bottom line on the safety of cookware:

Cookware to Avoid:

1. Aluminum - it is highly acidic and worst of all considered a neurotoxin and may be linked to Alzheimer's disease
   
2. Teflon - the chemical used to make the product is not only toxic to the environment but is toxic to you and your family
   
3. Any Non-Stick Pans (containing PFOA) - considered by the EPA to be toxic to the environment and is a suspected carcinogenic

Safe Cookware Alternatives:

1. Stainless Steel
2. Cast Iron
3. Glass and Ceramic such as Corningware or Pyrex
4. Enameled Cast Iron such as Chantal or Le Creuset

Another opportunity to clear out the clutter lurking in your cabinets!

A Ban on Bisphenol A?

I know we have covered the dangers of Bisphenol A before. But here is some new information. As mentioned before this chemical leaches out of your polycarbonate plastic into your food and beverages when the plastic is heated. BPA has been linked to many disorders such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, changes in brain structures,  and early puberty. Now they are noting that this chemical is also present in tin cans. The lining of the cans contains BPA. This is especially a problem with old cans; another reason to clean out that pantry! In Canada they are working towards banning this dangerous chemical because the research is so alarming. Avoid the concern and store leftovers in mason jars and glass containers. I tossed the plastic years ago in exchange for a set by Martha Stewart, it is still in excellent condition and has lots of sizes and shapes to store my leftovers and goodies. 

Organizing Your Linen Closet

Can't find the pillow cases that match the sheets? Unsure if it is a king, queen, or twin? Top sheet, bottom sheet? Here is a great tip for organizing your linen closet: place your sheet set into one of the set's pillow cases and store that way. This way your set stays together and is always within reach. Then organize your shelves according to the size of the sheets. Top shelf = kings, middle = queens, bottom shelf = twin sets. If you only have one shelf stack the sets and label the shelf to keep track. So simple and to keep it even neater fold the sheets, place inside the pillow case, then fold the pillow case like a present. Nice and tidy as well as functional!